Fathers determine their children's future via 2018 polls

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Tue, 27 Mar 2018 - 10:33 GMT

BY

Tue, 27 Mar 2018 - 10:33 GMT

An old man is heading to cast his vote on the second day of the 2018 presidential election on March 27, 2018- Egypt Today/ Nawal Sayed

An old man is heading to cast his vote on the second day of the 2018 presidential election on March 27, 2018- Egypt Today/ Nawal Sayed

CAIRO – 27 March 2018: "Elections belong to the people. It’s their decision," said the 16th U.S. President Abraham Lincoln, emphasizing the necessity of taking part in elections and expressing one's will. As Egypt has been witnessing a presidential election, hundreds of Egyptians have flocked to participate and cast their votes.

The turnout of elderly voters has been noticeable since the beginning of the presidential election on Monday, and this high turnout has continued through Tuesday.

The State Information Service (SIS) stated that international media is covering the election “freely.”

Many scenes were highlighted throughout the election process, but the most inspiring scenes were of elderly people who were keen to participate in their country’s election and decide their children's fate.

A 70-year old voter talked with Egypt Today on the second day of the 2018 presidential poll and expressed his confidence in the election's integrity and transparency. "I insisted on taking part in the election and playing a role in drawing the future country where my two sons will live," said the 70-year voter Ayman Kamal.

"Egypt deserves sacrifices and stability cannot be achieved without a high turnout of participation in the ongoing poll," stressed Kamal who arrived at his designated polling station in Imbaba district on Tuesday.

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Old men dancing in front of a polling station in Zamalek, western Cairo, after casting vote- Egypt Today/ Nawal Sayed


"I have just cast my vote and I feel proud I could take part in electing the next president of Egypt," said retired teacher Moustafa Mamdouh who came with his two club mates to vote at their designated polling station in Zamalek neighborhood, western Cairo.

The 82-year Mamdouh has three sons and two daughters. "My five children have suffered a lot from the bad economic situation that Egypt witnessed after the 2011 revolution," Mahmdouh added. "I hope the next president pays more attention to the economic aspects of this country."

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Old men heading to their polling stations to vote in the 2018 presidential election- Egypt Today/ Nawal Sayed


"I'm going inside the polling station to cast my vote, so I will not talk to media now," said a woman in her forties to Egypt Today.

After roughly 30 minutes, the same woman talked with Egypt Today and said that, "I'm now free to talk...I'm so happy and proud of my country."

She refused to tell her name and age, but she said joyfully, "I missed the feeling of security and safety during the one-year era of the outlawed Muslim Brotherhood, but now I can affirm that Egypt has restored its reputation as the homeland of safety and security."

The National Elections Authority (NEA) head Lasheen Ibrahim stressed in an interview with Middle East News Agency (MENA) editor-in-chief Ali Hassan that the NEA paid particular attention to the elderly and the disabled people, so most of the sub-election committees are located on ground floors of the polling stations.

Ibrahim added that every polling station is equipped with wheelchairs "to enable people with disabilities to participate and reach the headquarters of the committees.”

About 60 million Egyptians will cast their ballots on three consecutive days to elect the country’s next president, in a race pitting incumbent President Abdel Fatah al-Sisi against Ghad Party Chairman Moussa Moustafa Moussa.

The 2018 presidential election is the third poll to take place in Egypt since the January 2011 revolution. Egyptian expatriates have already voted on March 16-18 in 124 countries.

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